skip to main content
Main Image.

 

Dr Rebecca Grainger has been appointed chair of Research For Life’s Research Advisory Committee. The Research Advisory Committee evaluates applications for funding in terms of their scientific merit, methodology, likely outcomes and outputs.

Rebecca has been a member of the Research Advisory Committee since 2012 and is an academic rheumatologist and senior lecturer at the University of Otago, Wellington, and a consultant rheumatologist at the Hutt District Health Board.

Rebecca is very well qualified to lead the Research Advisory Committee. During her undergraduate training Rebecca completed a BMedSci in immunology that was awarded with distinction in 1995. Following the subsequent award of her qualifying medical degree with distinction Rebecca undertook a PhD examining inflammatory pathways in gout that was awarded by the University of Otago in 2010. Her research interests are varied and include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, outcome measures and the use of technology in solving problems in rheumatic disease.

In addition to her involvement with Research For Life, Rebecca served on the governing body of Arthritis New Zealand from 2014-2018, is on the Adult Medicine Division Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and is on the national executive of the New Zealand Rheumatology Association.

Rebecca succeeds former chair Professor Brett Delahunt who remains a member of the Research Advisory Committee. The committee’s other members are Dr David Ackerley, Dr Peter Bethwaite, Professor Anne La Flamme, Associate Professor Peter Larsen, Professor John H Miller and Dr Robert Weinkove.

Research For Life’s chairman Prof John Nacey said, “Rebecca is a highly respected medical researcher and clinician, and we welcome her appointment as chair of the Research Advisory Committee.” 

Established in 1960, the Foundation funds innovative quality research undertaken by researchers in the early stages of their careers.

Last year, Research for Life made 12 research grants and nine travel grants worth $173,609. Recent projects funded included research into the basic understanding of cancer, kidney disease and conditions of particular concern in the Wellington region, such as asthma with grant recipients coming from the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research; Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Biological Sciences; the School of Medicine, Wellington Hospital; Massey University, Wellington; and ESR (The Institute of Environmental Science and Research).

“While we continue to provide a great deal of support to young researchers, we are looking forward to fostering an increasing level of support over the next few years with the aim of enhancing our ability to work in partnership with the research community and increase the number of grants we make to local researchers,” John Nacey said.

ENDS

 

About Research For Life

Research For Life is the public face of the Wellington Medical Research Foundation.

Our Mission
Supporting innovative quality research with a focus on funding those researchers in the early stages of their careers, who – through their work – will advance the quality of healthcare in the Wellington region and beyond.

Role of the Foundation
Research For Life (Wellington Medical Research Foundation) is dedicated to supporting and encouraging young, talented people to engage in medical and biomedical research.

The Foundation considers appropriate applications from all individuals and research groups in the Wellington region. We currently lend our support, in particular, to the School of Medicine, Wellington Hospital, Victoria University of Wellington and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.

The need for medical research
Major discoveries in medicine have been made and continue to be made through fundamental and applied research. By funding such research, we aim to be at the forefront of medical knowledge and technical ability.

Achievements of the Foundation
The Foundation has funded work in many areas, including research into the basic understanding of cancer, kidney disease and conditions of particular concern in the Wellington region, such as asthma.

The Wellington Medical Research Foundation is a registered charity, registration number: CC10659

 

 

 

Dr Rebecca Grainger appointed chair of Research For Life’s Research Advisory Committee

 
 
+ Text Size -